Rear suspension and storage box for a three-wheel motorcycle

Claim 2

A swing-arm type rear frame and suspension assembly for three-wheel motor vehicles comprising in operative combination: (a) A generally U-shaped frame having its closed end disposed forward and open end disposed rearwardly; (b) said closed end of said frame having means for retaining a transverse disposed swing arm pivot member; (c) said swing-arm pivot member being adapted to be pivotally received in a main frame member of said vehicle; (d) said open end of said frame terminating in a transverse bumper member; (e) a rigid axle having means for retaining wheels at each end disposed medially of the ends of said frame and parallel to said bumper member and said swing-arm pivot member; (f) said rigid axle having an off-center differential; (g) said swing-arm pivot member being adapted to receive a drive shaft therethrough transverse to the pivotal axis of said swing arm, said drive shaft being aligned with said off-center differential; (h) at least one resilient member connecting said rear frame to said main frame, said resilient member being oriented generally vertically and inclined forwardly from bottom to top; (i) means for retaining said bottom end of said resilient member disposed on said frame intermediate said swing-arm pivot and said axle; (j) said main frame having a seat for a rider disposed thereon; (k) means for retaining said top end of at said resilient member disposed beneath said main frame seat member; and (l) means for securing a load carrying member disposed on rear frame intermediate the ends thereof.

Claim 3

A rear frame assembly as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said U-shaped frame comprises a pair of rails, a first, top rail passing above said axle, and a second, lower rail passing below said axle; (b) said axle is secured to a pair of plate members each of which is secured to said rails; and (c) said closed end of said U-shaped rear frame is secured by a pair of plates to said swing-arm pivot member, said swing-arm pivot member being disposed between said plates.

Claim 4

A rear frame assembly as in claim 2 wherein: (a) said resilient member comprises a plurality of combination spring and shock absorber members.

Claim 5

A rear frame assembly as in claim 3 wherein: (a) there are three combination spring and shock absorber members, a pair disposed adjacent the sides of said seat, and one disposed centrally of said seat.

Claim 6

A rear frame assembly as in claim 1 wherein: (a) said load carrying is a covered storage box secured to said frame between said wheels.

Claim 7

A rear frame assembly as in claim 5 wherein: (a) said box includes: (1) a hinged lid, (2) fender members extending over said wheels, (3) a pair of combination running, stop and turn signal lighting means disposed on a rear face, and (4) said bumper extending rearwardly of said rear face.

Claim 8

A rear frame assembly as in claim 5 wherein: (a) said box additionally includes means for retaining traffic citations therein.

Claim 9

A rear frame assembly as in claim 6 wherein: (a) said resilient member comprises a plurality of combination spring and shock absorber members.

Claim 10

A rear frame assembly as in claim 8 wherein: (a) there are three combination spring and shock absorber members, a pair disposed adjacent the sides of said seat, and one disposed centrally of said seat.

Claim 11

A rear frame assembly as in claim 9 wherein: (a) said U-shaped frame comprises a pair of rails, a first, top rail passing above said axle, and a second, lower rail passing below said axle; (b) said axle is secured to a pair of plate members each of which is secured to said rails; and (c) said closed end of said U-shaped rear frame is secured by a pair of plates to said swing-arm pivot member, said swing-arm pivot member being disposed between said plates.

Claim 12

A rear frame assembly as in claim 10 wherein: (a) said box additionally includes means for retaining traffic citations therein.

Claim 13

In a three-wheeled motorcycle having a front frame including a steering head, a front fork and wheel assembly mounted therein, and controllable by handlebars, an engine assembly including fuel supply means and a transmission, and a pair of rear wheels on a rear frame supporting a storage box, the improvement which comprises: (a) a generally U-shaped frame having its closed end disposed forward and open end disposed rearwardly; (b) said closed end of said frame having means for retaining a transverse disposed swing arm pivot member; (c) said swing-arm pivot member being adapted to be pivotally received in a main frame member of said vehicle; (d) said open end of said frame terminating in a transverse bumper member; (e) a rigid axle having means for retaining wheels at each end disposed medially of the ends of said frame and parallel to said bumper member and said swing-arm pivot member; (f) said rigid axle having an off-center differential; (g) said swing-arm pivot member being adapted to receive a drive shaft therethrough transverse to the pivotal axis of said swing arm, said drive shaft being aligned with said off-center differential; (h) at least one resilient member connecting said rear frame to said main frame, said resilient member being oriented generally vertically and inclined forwardly from bottom to top; (i) means for retaining said bottom end of said resilient member disposed on said frame intermediate said swing-arm pivot and said axle; (j) said main frame having a seat for a rider disposed thereon; (k) means for retaining said top end of said resilient member disposed beneath said main frame seat member; (l) means for securing a load carrying member disposed on rear frame intermediate the ends thereof; and (m) a covered storage box mounted on said securing means.

Claim 14

In a three-wheeled motorcycle having a front frame including a steering head, a front fork and wheel assembly mounted therein, and controllable by handlebars, an engine assembly including fuel supply means and a transmission, and a pair of rear wheels on a rear frame supporting a storage box, the improvement which comprises: (a) a generally U-shaped frame having its closed end disposed forward and open end disposed rearwardly; (b) said closed end of said frame having means for retaining a transverse disposed swing arm pivot member; (c) said swing-arm pivot member being adapted to be pivotally received in a main frame member of said vehicle; (d) said open end of said frame terminating in a transverse bumper member; (e) a rigid axle having means for retaining wheels at each end disposed medially of the ends of said frame and parallel to said bumper member and said swing-arm pivot member; (f) said rigid axle having an off-center differential; (g) said swing-arm pivot member being adapted to receive a drive shaft therethrough transverse to the pivotal axis of said swing arm, said drive shaft being aligned with said off-center differential; (h) at least one resilient member connecting said rear frame to said main frame, said resilient member being oriented generally vertically and inclined forwardly from bottom to top; (i) means for retaining said bottom end of said resilient member disposed on said frame intermediate said swing-arm pivot and said axle; (j) said main frame having a seat for a rider disposed thereon; (k) means for retaining said top end of said resilient member disposed beneath said main frame seat member; (l) means for securing a load carrying member disposed on rear frame intermediate the ends thereof; and (m) a covered storage box mounted on said securing means.

Claim 15

A rear frame assembly as in claim 12 wherein: (a) said U-shaped frame comprises a pair of rails, a first, top rail passing above said axle, and a second, lower rail passing below said axle; (b) said axle is secured to a pair of plate members each of which is secured to said rails; and (c) said closed end of said U-shaped rear frame is secured by a pair of plates to said swing-arm pivot member, said swing-arm pivot member being disposed between said plates.

Claim 16

A rear frame assembly as in claim 13 wherein: (a) said resilient member comprises a plurality of combination spring and shock absorber members.

Claim 17

A rear frame assembly as in claim 14 wherein: (a) there are three combination spring and shock absorber members, a pair disposed adjacent the sides of said seat, and one disposed centrally of said seat.

Claim 18

A rear frame assembly as in claim 15 wherein: (a) said box includes: (1) a hinged lid, (2) fender members extending over said wheels, (3) a pair of combination running, stop and turn signal lighting means disposed on a rear face, and (4) said bumper extending rearwardly of said rear face.

Claim 19

A rear frame assembly as in claim 16 wherein: (a) said box additionally includes means for retaining traffic citations therein.